C C C C CFO

[DouglasFiel 53]

Look at this....

St Mary's is close and easy if using the MRT. There is a MRT station on UN Ave 6 blocks from US Embassy.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry3273117

[osen74 4]

Thanks to all.

So what's the thing we need to book 5 days in advance? this whole deal won't take a whole day, understand that. She goes to PRISM, no appointments, does some thing where she gets warned about the USA and gets some papers, understand that. Then she goes to CFO with said papers and gets a sticker for her visa, understand that.

I don't get why 5 days come into play.

From what I hear she can get the visa packet go to PRISM, then go to CFO, then go to the airport and depart. Is this correct?

the 5 days advance booking come into play if you will choose to attend the seminar at CFO main office in Quirino..

you can just choose between st. mary's office in Quezon City or at Prism office in taft avenue.. these two offices accepts walk in applicants..

[GD21 0]

I was confused. I didn't realize there was an "OR" involved. I thought there was a seminar at the CFO that required a 5 day advance AND a seminar at this PRISM deal that you could walk in to. This isn't soo bad. Thank you all soo much for the clarification. Forgive me for my ignorance.

[kaibigan 8]

Look at this....

St Mary's is close and easy if using the MRT. There is a MRT station on UN Ave 6 blocks from US Embassy.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry3273117

hmmm... St. Mary's -->> MRT --->> UN Ave???? whatt??? 6 blocks from US embassy????? whatt???

UN ave. close to US embassy yes.. But far from MRT and St. Mary's

[kaibigan 8]

Look at this....

St Mary's is close and easy if using the MRT. There is a MRT station on UN Ave 6 blocks from US Embassy.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry3273117

hmmm... St. Mary's -->> MRT --->> UN Ave???? whatt??? 6 blocks from US embassy????? whatt???

UN ave. close to US embassy yes.. But far from MRT and St. Mary's

or do you mean PRISM not ST. MARY'S....

PRISM.. CLOSE TO US EMBASSY..CLOSE TO UN AVE. LRT THERE NOT MRT...

ST. MARY'S FAR FAR FAR FAR FROM THE US EMBASSY

[osen74 4]

I was confused. I didn't realize there was an "OR" involved. I thought there was a seminar at the CFO that required a 5 day advance AND a seminar at this PRISM deal that you could walk in to. This isn't soo bad. Thank you all soo much for the clarification. Forgive me for my ignorance.

it's ok.. i know you're so much excited right now and can't wait to be with your fiance.. God bless to both of you!!!

[marriedtomrg 141]

Hi kaibigan and GD21.

There are two requirements:

- the Guidance and Counseling session with SMEF-COW or PRISM --- no appointment needed, the fiancee or spouse can just go anytime from Monday to Friday between 8am to 5 pm. SMEF-COW or PRISM will issue a blue certificate of attendance, and the fiancee or spouse can go to CFO (at SMEF-COW, the CFO has a satellite office at the back) to get the green certificate. Both the blue and green certificates are needed for the next requirement. The fiancee or the spouse can get these certificates even though the K1 or K3 visa has not been issued yet. But if they do that, they have to come back for the CFO sticker. If your SO is pressed for time, it is better to get this done and the next step after the visa has been issued. One stop shop.

- If your SO decides to get the blue and green certificates first and come back for the CFO sticker later, then after the fiancee or the spouse receives the K1 or K3 visa, respectively, she must attend the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) with CFO --- this one she needs to book the appointment for 5 days before. They announced in January that you have to book it 5 days in advance before attending. After she attends, CFO will issue the CFO sticker. She has to show the blue and green certificates as proof that she has attended the Guidance and Counselling session at PRISM or SMEF-COW.

Hope this helps.

Edited September 3, 2009 by marriedtomrg

[Tahoma 2,292]

Hi GD21...here is the way my wife explained it to me:

Your fiancée has a choice of two different places to attend the CFO seminar. She can attend the CFO seminar at PRISM on Taft Avenue (in front of de la Salle University), or, she can attend the CFO seminar at St. Mary's in Quezon City.

The difference between attending the CFO seminar at PRISM compared to St. Mary's is that, after attending the CFO seminar at St. Mary's, your fiancée will be able to get the required sticker for her visa right there at St. Mary's. If she attends the CFO seminar at PRISM, she will have to go afterward and get her sticker at the CFO Main Office, which is anywhere from 20 minutes to one hour away by taxi from PRISM (depending on traffic).

If she already has her visa, she can attend the CFO seminar and also get her sticker in one day, no matter which place she attends the CFO seminar.

If she does not yet have her visa, she can still attend the CFO seminar and then get her sticker after she has her visa. This is what my then-fiancée did. My then-fiancée attended the CFO seminar at PRISM the day after her medical at SLEC. She picked up her sticker at the CFO Main Office about two weeks later (about a week after her interview, and the day before she was in my arms again).

Neither PRISM nor St. Mary's requires any kind of appointment nor reservation, so no need to worry about that.

Good luck to you!

~ Tahoma

[forestrose 0]

hello guys , I had my cfo done at St. Mary's in Quezon City , it is located along aurora Blvd, opposite PSBA (Phil. School of Business Administration , it is beside the Katipunan MRT station ; I just went there without to book in advance , the seminar took about 2 hours , from registration , seminar , issuance of sticker and certificate of attendance ; another landmark at St. Mary's is the Sta. Clara Monastery along Katipinan Ave. I went there after seminar and offered eggs , for thanksgiving .